Train to Work Employer Forum Held April 22
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner has added a new daily roundtrip and expanded peak-hour service, increasing flexibility for commuters traveling between Ventura County, Santa Barbara, Goleta, and beyond. The service is designed to better match real-world work schedules, offering an alternative to Highway 101 congestion while improving regional connectivity.
The expanded rail service, which began May 4, is part of a broader regional strategy to provide more commute options alongside ongoing Highway 101 Carpinteria to Santa Barbara improvements. Passenger rail between Ventura County and the South Coast is funded in part by the voter-approved Measure A transportation sales tax within Santa Barbara County, which invests in projects that reduce congestion and improve mobility.
On April 22, 2026, a Train to Work Employer Forum, co-hosted by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) and the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, and supported by Hilton Garden Inn and Southern California Edison, was held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Goleta. Two-hundred business leaders and transportation providers attended. The forum focused on turning a new transportation service into something employers can actually use—and employees can rely on.
“This is no longer a concept—it’s a service that’s launching and ready to use,” said Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte. “For a city like Goleta, where thousands of people commute in every day, having a peak-hour rail option gives employers a real option to reduce commute stress and expand access to jobs.”
The forum emphasized a simple but critical takeaway: new infrastructure alone does not change behavior—people do. Employers play a central role in introducing and normalizing new commute options, whether through incentives, flexible policies, or simply encouraging employees to try the train.
For those who were unable to attend, information about schedules, fares, and how to get started is available at www.sbcag.org/train. SBCAG can also work with employers and individuals to help identify commute options that fit their needs. For more information contact SBCAG at (805) 600-4477 or info@sbcag.org.
Pictured: Mayor Perotte at the Train to Work Employer Forum